Collapsible carriage



March 1, 1949. .1 COOKLIN ET AL COLLAPS-IBLE CARRIAGE 3- Sheets-Shet 1 Filed April 11, 1946 /Z 607442711171 ,fliawi/m March 1949. L. COOKLIN ET AL COLLAPSIBLE CARRIAGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 11, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Mamh 1949- L. COOKLlN ET AL COLLAPSIBLE CARRIAGE Filed April 11, 1946 m D mm Wm Patented Mar. 1, 1949 COLLAPSIBLE CARRIAGE Leonard Cooklin and Thomas R. Hollis, Birmingham, England Application April 11, 1946, Serial No. 661,327 In Great Britain April 16, 1945 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a collapsible carriage, more particularly a perambulator or baby carriage, of the kind which is combined with a boxlike case which forms an effective part of the carriage when it is erected into a position for use, and into which case the parts of the carriage can be folded or collapsed so that the whole can be transported in it in the manner of a suit or travelling case.

The main object of the invention is to Provide a collapsible or folding perambulator or baby carriage which will be very compact When folded or collapsed for transport or storage and yet will afiord a full length body or bed for the child when the carriage is erected for use.

According to the invention in one of its aspects the case contains a collapsible carriage body having a bodily movable end part which, when said body is collapsed, constitutes an end wall of the case, and which, when said body is erected, is projected through an opening in the end of the case to constitute an end extension of the erected body.

According to the invention in another of its aspects, the case contains a vertically collapsible carriage body which is operated through lever and link mechanism from a folding handle, and said collapsible body has a bodily movable end part guided longitudinally in the case and operatively connected to said lever and link mechanism so that as the collapsible body is erected its bodily movable end part is projected through an opening in the end of the case to constitute an extension of the erected body and when the latter is collapsed said bodily movable end part is retracted into a position in which it constitutes an end wall of the case.

The lever and link mechanism for operating the vertically collapsible body may be duplicated, at opposite ends of the case and cross-connected, and the folding handle may be adapted to be operatively connected to either of said duplicated mechanisms according to whether it is desired to use the handle at the foot end or the head end of the carriage.

The bodily movable part of the carriage body is preferably arranged to constitute an extension thereof at the root end, and when in the extended position it may be adapted to be adjusted angularly to afford a downwardly inclined support for the childs legs.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood it will now be more fully described with reference to and by the aid of the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example, the

application of the present invention to a collapsible carriage which is constructed in accordance with the invention set forth in our patent application Serial No. 612,148, filed August 23, 1945, now Patent No. 2,437,380, granted March 9, 1948.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the carriage in its completely erected state ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a similar View to Fig. 1 but with the body collapsed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation illustratin the operating mechanism for erecting and collapsing the body and for extending and retracting the bodily movable part constituting the foot end of the body, the mechanism being shown in the erected and extended position.

Fig. 4 is a similar View to Fig. 3 but shows the operating mechanism in the position it occupies when the body is collapsed with its foot end retracted.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the carriage comprises wheel chassis units I mounted for pivotal movement about longitudinal axes 2 at either side upon lid panels 3 which are pivotally connected through hinge mountings 4 to the upper edges of the side walls 5 of the case which contains the collapsible body. Each wheel chassis unit I is adapted to be secured in the running position shown by sliding bolt locking mechanism mounted on the associated lid panel 3 and generally indicated by the reference numeral 6, whilst each lid panel 3 is adapted to be secured in its depending position, alongside the case wall 5 to which it is hingedly connected, by latch means (not shown). The arrangement of the running parts is such that the wheel chassis units 1, when unlocked, can be inverted about the axes 2 so as to occupy positions alongside or against the respective depending lid panels 3, and upon unlatching the latter from the walls 5 of the case, said panels 3 can be swung over about their respective hinge mountings 4 so as jointly to afford a top closure or complete lid for the case and enclose the chassis units I which will now occupy positions within the case and directly over the collapsed body therein. This arrangement and the operational and constructional details thereof are as fully described and claimed in our aforementioned earlier application, and since the present invention is not concerned with these features of the general arrangement they have been described but briefly in this specification.

Reverting to the drawings, the box-like case comprises in addition to the side walls 5, a rigid shaped strip metal top frame II, which extends across the head end of the case and has its limbs connected each to one of the side bars I2, and a flexible fabric Wall i3 having it upper edge secured to and around said U-shaped frame I i and its lower edge secured tothe edges of the seat or bed I!) along the sides and across the head end thereof. Beyond the extremities of the limbs of the U-shaped top frame II the sides of the flexible fabric wall i3 constitute folding gussets' which are connected to the inner vertical edges of the bodily movable part hereinafter described.

Along each side of the seat or bed l and secured to the bottom 1 is an L-section bar M having in its vertically disposed flange a longitudinal guide slot l for one end of a transverse bar I6. The end portions of the bar IE which project through the-guide slots in the guide bars l4 have fixed thereon brackets I! which each carry a steadying pin l8 running in'the slot in the bar M so as to prevent tilting of the transverse bar N5 and thereby ensure its free guided movement in said slots. To the upper surface of the transverse bar I6 is fixed a plate l8 to one edge of "which is hinged at H! the bodily movable foot extension of the body, which foot extension comprises the base 20, curved end panel 2| 'and'rigid side walls 22 which are connected by pivoted retaining and limiting stays 23 to upstanding brackets 24 fixed on said bar I6. The extremities of'the transverse bar l6 are upturned and carry pivot pins 25 to'Which the operating mechanisms for the said bar and associated foot extension are connected.

The operating mechanisms ineach side of the case for collapsing and erecting the body and actuating-the foot extension thereof are similar. Each'such operating mechanism comprises .a connecting rod 26 pivotallyconnected at one end to the pin 25 (on the end of the transverse bar 16) and at the other end to "a lever arm 2'! which is mounted upon a pivot 28 fixed to the wall 5 of the case at a position near its upper edge and toward the head end. A pair of reversely arranged bell crank levers 29 are mounted, one at each end of the case, upon pivot studs 30, and thelower arm of one bell crank is connected to the upper arm of the other bell crank by a link 3| "pivoted on pins 32 carried bysaid bell crank arms. This link carries an actuating pin 33 which works in a slot at 34 in thelevertarm 21; The 'other opposed arms of the 'two bell-crank levers29 are pivotally connected through pins 35 to the opposite "ends of the side bar l2 to which the. U-shaped top'frame ll of the collapsible body is'secured, one of said pins 35 being engaged in a plain bearing-hole in the bar [2 and the other being engaged in a longitudinal slot 36 in said bar;

It will be seen that with the parts occupying the erected and extended positions shown in Fig. 3, if theb'ell crank levers are turned through 90 into thepositions shown in Fig; '4 the side bar i2 will-be lowered, whilst being maintained-horizontal, so as to collapse the U-shaped frame I I down toward seat or bed, and that simultaneously the lever arm 2'! will be rocked in a counterclockwise direction by the link 3! so as to draw the transverse bar l6 along the guide slots l5 and so retract the foot extension into the case and into such a position that the curved end panel 2| closes or almost completely closes the gap or opening in the foot end of the case and so constitutes an end wall thereof.

When the mechanism is operated in the reverse sense, the foot extension will be projected through the gap or opening in the end of the case into a position in which it constitutes an extension of the body to aiford a full length bed. In this position the foot-extension may be tilted downwardly about its hinge l9, to the limit permitted by its stays 23, so that the base 23 afiords an inclined support for the childs legs. Simultaneously with the outward movement of the foot extension, the side bars I2 will be raised into the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3 so as to erect said body by extending the flexible wall. 13 connecting the U-shaped frame II with the seat-.or bed Ill. The U-shapedbody frame H may carry the usual hood stay frame (not shown).

It is convenient to use the usual folding propelling handle as the means for actuating the lever and link mechanisms, and also it is advantageous if the handle can be used at either endv of the carriage as desired. In this connection, the bell cranks 29 are cross-connected by the link 3| and a similarlink 31 which are cranked or oiTset laterally to clear one another, the additional or further link 31 having its lower end slotted at 38 to engage over. a pivot pin 32 on the lower arm of one bell :crank 29 and having its upper end connected bya pivot pin 32 on the upperarm of the other bell crank. The upper ends of these two links 3i, 3"! are extended beyond the associated pins 32 and carry inwardly directed pins 39, whilst the upper arm of each bell crank is formed with a bearing hole at 40, and" with a slot at Al to accommodate the adjacent pin 39 when the mechanism is in the 'collapsed state (see Fig. 4). The handle 42, which is the'usual propelling handle of U-shape and made of tubing, has the end of each limb slotted at 43, to slidably and pivotally engage the'pin 39, and provided at the extreme end with a pivot pin 44 to engage the bearing hole 40. The natural spring'ofthe metal handle enables its limbs to be sprung into engagement with the pins 39, carried by the links 3| or 31, and with the bearing holes 40 in the upper bell-crank arms. In Fig. 3 the handle 42 is shown in full lines as connected to the pins 39 on the links 3| and to the bell cranks 29 at the foot end of the case, whilst the alternative position for the handle. at the oppositeend of the case is shown in chain-dotted lines.- With the handle 42 connected at either end, it canbe rocked inwardly and downwardly so 'as'to operate-the associated lever and link mechanism to-collapsethe body and retract the foot extension, the folding handle 'finallyitaking up an" approximately horizontal position within the case and over the collapsed body.

In order to lock theparts in the erected position shown in Fig. 3, each side bar has pivotally connected thereto-at 45 a notched catch bar. which is turned down so that its notch straddles the pin 35 which is engaged with theslot 36in said bar: this prevents the said pin 35 moving in'said slot 36 and consequently locks the-lever and. link mechanism againstoperatiom These catch bars 46 require to be disengaged from the pins 35 before the body can be collapsed.

We claim:

1. In a collapsible carriage of the class described, the combination comprising a carriage body structure including vertically extensible and collapsible walls and rigid structure defining a case for said collapsible walls when the latter are in collapsed position, said body structure having an open end, an end part telescopically movable with respect to said body structure between a position longitudinally extended with respect thereto and a contracted position for closing said open end, and means for simultaneously moving said collapsible walls and end part between extended and contracted positions including cooperating linkage movably supported upon said rigid structure.

2. In a collapsible carriage of the class described, the combination comprising a carriage body structure including vertically extensible and collapsible walls and rigid structure defining a case for said collapsible walls when the latter are in collapsed position, said body structure having an open end, an end part telescopically movable with respect to said body structure between a position longitudinally extended with respect thereto and a contracted position for closing said open end, means for simultaneously moving said collapsible walls and end part between extended and contracted position including cooperating linkage movably supported upon said rigid structure, a handle for propelling said carriage, means for connecting said handle to said body structure including fixed pivot means supporting said handle for rocking movement between operative and collapsed positions, and pin and slot connection means between said handle and linkage cooperating to actuate said linkage for moving said collapsible walls and end part between extended and contracted positions when said handle is rocked between operative and collapsed positions.

3. In a collapsible carriage of the class described, the combination comprising a carriage body structure including vertically extensible and collapsible walls and rigid structure defining a case for said collapsible walls when the latter are in collapsed position, said body structure having an open end, an end part telescopically movable with respect to said body structure between a position longitudinally extended with respect thereto, and a contracted position for closing said open end, means for simultaneously moving said collapsible walls and end part between extended and contracted positions including cooperating linkage of duplicate construction movably supported in reverse position adjacent opposite ends of said rigid structure, a handle for propelling said carriage, means for detachably connecting said handle to said body structure, including detachably engageable pivot means carried by said handle and the reversably positioned linkage adapted to support said handle from either end of said rigid structure for rocking movement between operative and collapsed positions, and pin and slot connection means carried by said handle and the reversably positioned linkage for actuating the latter when said handle is rocked between operative and collapsed position to move said collapsible walls and end part between extended and collapsed positions.

4. In a collapsible carriage of the class described, the combination comprising a carriage body structure including vertically extensible and collapsible walls and rigid structure defining a case for said collapsible walls when the latter are in collapsed position, said body structure having an open end, an end part telescopically movable with respect to said body structure between a position longitudinally extended with respect thereto and a contracted position for closing said open end, means for movably connecting said end part and body structure to permit inclination of said end part with respect to said body structure when said end part is extended, latch means for locking said end part in position with respect to said body structure, and means for simultaneously moving said collapsible walls and end part between extended and contracted positions including cooperating linkage movably supported upon said rigid structure.

5. In a collapsible carriage of the class described, the combination comprising a carriage body structure including vertically extensible and collapsible walls and rigid walls forming a case for said collapsible walls when the latter are in collapsed position, said body structure having an open end, an end part telescopically movable with respect to said body structure between a position longitudinally extended with respect thereto and a contracted position for closing said open end, a first linkage system operable to extend or collapse said collapsible wall structure vertically, and a second linkage system operatively connected to the first linkage system and said end part, said second linkage system being actuated to move said end part to longitudinally extended position when said first linkage system is actuated to extend said collapsible walls vertically and to move said end part to contracted position when said first linkage system is actuated to collapse said collapsible walls.

6. In a collapsible carriage of the class described, the combination comprising a carriage body structure including vertically extensible and collapsible walls and rigid walls forming a case for housing said collapsible walls when the latter are in collapsed position, said body structure having an open end, an end part telescopically movable with respect to said body structure between a position longitudinally extended with respect thereto and a contracted position for closing said open end, a first linkage system operable to extend or collapse said collapsible wall structure vertically, and a second linkage system operatively connected to the first linkage system and said end part for moving said end part between extended and contracted positions when said first linkage system is actuated to move said collapsible Walls between extended and collapsed positions, a handle for propelling said carriage, means for connecting said handle to said linkage system including fixed pivot means supporting said handle for rocking movement between operative and collapsed position, and pin and slot connection means between said parts,

, said pin and slot connection means cooperating to actuate said linkage systems for moving said collapsible walls and end part between extended and collapsed position when said handle is rocked between operative and collapsed position.

7. In a collapsible carriage of the class described, the combination comprising a carriage body structure including vertically extensible and collapsible walls and rigid walls forming a case for housing said collapsible walls when the latter are in collapsed position, said body structure having an open end, an end part telescopically movable with respect to said body structure between a position longitudinally extended with re- 1 ;spect: thereto and a contracted position for; closingsaidopen end, and means for simultaneously -.moving said collapsible walls and end part 'be- -.tween extended and contractedposition, including bell crank levers of duplicate construction having corresponding arms pivotally secured adjacent the opposite ends of said case, a link interconnecting opposite bell crank levers, a lever pivotally secured for actuation by said link, and a connecting rod between said lever and end part actuated by said lever to move said end part ubetween extended and contracted position when said bell crank levers are actuated to move said collapsible walls between extended and collapsed position.

8. In a collapsible carriage of theclass'de- -scribed, the combination comprising a carriage body structure including vertically extensible and collapsible walls and rigid walls forming a case for housing said collapsible walls When the latter ware in collapsed. position, said body structure having an open end, an end part telescopically movable with respect to said body structure between a position longitudinally extended with respect thereto and a contracted position for :closing said open end, and means for simultaneously moving said collapsible walls and end part between extended and contracted position including reversely positioned bell crank levers of duplicate construction having corresponding arms pivotally secured adjacent opposite ends of said case, a link oppositely secured with respect to said bell cranks to efifect rocking movement thereof in reverse directions, a lever pivotally secured for actuation by said link, and a connecting, rod between said lever and end part actuated by said lever to move said end part between ex- -''tended and contracted positions when said bell crank levers are actuated to move said collapsible walls between extended and collapsed positions.-

9. In a collapsible carriage of the class de- '-scribed, the combination comprisii'i'g a carriage 1 body structure including vertically extensible and collapsible walls and rigid walls forming a case I for housing said collapsible walls when the latter are in collapsed position, said body structure having an open end, an end part telescopically movable with respect to said body structure bewtween a position longitudinally extended with respect thereto and a contracted position for closing said open end, means for simultaneously -moving said collapsible walls and end part between extended and contracted position includ- -ing bell crank levers of duplicate construction having corresponding arms pivotally secured adjacent the opposite ends of said case, a link interconnecting said bell crank levers, a lever pivotally secured for actuation by said link, a connecting rod between said lever and end part actuated by said lever to move said end part between extended and contracted position when .said bell crank levers are actuated to move said collapsible walls between extended and collapsed positions, a handle ;fompropellingzsaidocarriage, meansfor securing said handlegforrpivotal movement between an operative and a: collapsed position, and pin and slot connection :means between said handle and'said, link for actuating I said link and bell; crank levers to movesaidcollapsible Walls and end part between extendedand contracted positions when said handle is moved between operative and collapsed positions.

10. In a collapsible carriage of the;,class described, the combination comprising a;-carr i age body structure including vertically-textensime and collapsible walls and rigid walls forming a case for housing said collapsible walls when the latter are in collapsed position, said body structure having an open end, an end part telescopically movable with respect tosaid body structure between a position longitudinally extended with respect thereto and a contracted position for closing said open end, means for simultaneously moving said collapsible walls and endv part-between extended and contracted position including reversely positioned bell crank levers ofduplicate construction pivotally secured-adjacent handle with either of the oppositely disposed link means to adapt the same for actuating said links and bell crank levers to move said collapsible walls and end part between extendedand-contracted positions upon pivotal movement-of said handle between operative and collapsed :positions.

L; COOKLIN. 'I. R.-HOLLIS.

REFERENCES .CITED The following references are of record inthe 'file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 166,237 'Whitney Aug. 3,1875 1,027,029 Benson May 21,1912 1,753,110 Hamel 'May '13, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS- llui'nber Country Date 22,873 Great Britain Oct; 17; 1911 126,734 Austria Febx10,31932 254,101 Great Britain July 1,1926 517,999 Great Britain Feb.14,a=1940 

